Gregory of Novgorod

Holy Hierarch Gregory (in the world Gabriel Nikolaevich) was archbishop of Novgorod and Pskov and died in 1193. He was the brother and successor on the throne of Archbishop John of Novgorod. He is canonized among the hierarchs. His commemoration is on 6 June and on the third Sunday after Pentecost, in the Synaxis of the Saints of Novgorod.

Together with his brother he laboured much in the arrangement of the Annunciation Monastery, in 1179, using for this also his own property. When Saint John resolved to leave the throne, to prepare himself in solitude for eternity, he appointed Gregory his successor. In 1186 he was elected by the Novgorodians to the episcopal throne. On 29 March 1187 he was consecrated bishop of Novgorod and Pskov, with elevation to the rank of archbishop.

From the information that has been preserved about him, it can be said that he was a good shepherd of his spiritual flock. In his short archpastoral work he showed himself a gentle and prudent archpastor, distinguished by love of building churches. He built a church in the name of the three youths, Ananias, Azarias and Misael, and of the prophet Daniel, and in his own courtyard one in honour of the Meeting of the Lord. In 1189 the right reverend Gregory consecrated in the Arkazhi Monastery the church of the Dormition of the Mother of God and adorned it with wall paintings, and then consecrated in the same monastery the church of the Annunciation. Gregory was a contemporary of Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn. In 1192, at the consecration of the stone church of the Transfiguration in the Khutyn monastery, Archbishop Gregory raised the holy elder to the rank of hegumen. In the same year the church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was also consecrated.

For six years Archbishop Gregory governed the Novgorod flock in peace, not interfering in political matters and not taking part in the affairs of the Novgorod assembly, devoting himself only to church matters. The Novgorod flock loved its archpastor. He died in 1193 and was buried in the cathedral of Saint Sophia in Novgorod, beside his brother, Saint John the hierarch. His relics were found in 1558 and rested in the Forerunner side-⁠chapel of the church.